WATCH: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Nicholas Lyndhurst

He's known to millions as 'Rodney, you plonker!' on Only Fools and Horses, but off screen Nicholas Lyndhurst is more of a private person.

The West Sussex actor, born in Emsworth, and now living in The Witterings is rarely seen in public.

The 55-year-old recently made a return to our screens reprising his role of Gary Sparrow for a one-off episode of Goodnight Sweetheart.

But fans know him best for the long-suffering brother of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, which ran on the BBC from 1981 through to 2003 with seven full series and 15 specials over the years.

So, we've put together ten facts about Nicholas that may provide you more insight in to the man that has provided us with so many hours of entertainment.

10. Nic was born on April 20, 1961. His full name is Nicholas Simon Lyndhurst and he was raised by single mum Liz Long, only seeing his father Joe on the odd occassion. Nic speaks well of his father however, “He was a gentle man; very funny and charming and he always made me laugh. He also bought me some great toys. My Action Man collection was the envy of my classmates.”

9. His first appearance on television was in The Prince And The Pauper in 1976 starring as both Prince Edward and Tom Canty. Two years later, he played a role as Adolf Hitler’s assistant Karl Brandt in an episode of cult kids sci-fi show The Tomorrow People.

8. His first sitcom role came in Going Straight, the follow-up to the brilliant Porridge. He played the role of Raymond Fletcher, the son of main character, Norman Stanley who was of course played by Ronnie Barker.

5. Various fans shout “plonker” at him when he is out in public but he far from resents the role he is most famous for. In 2009, he stated, “I have a real soft spot for Rodney,” he admitted. “He never typecast me, and I never wanted to bury him. I would make another series of Fools if the script was good.”

4. Nic loves to read! “These days I never have time to lose myself in a story but I do try to read something every day. I have a rather eclectic taste in literature as at the moment I am reading three books at once: The Girl On The Train, Shakespeare On Toast and a memoir about pilots in the First World War.”

3. In 1999, Nic married ex ballet dancer Lucy Smith. However, there were a few last minute issues…Their vicar (of all people) revealed their wedding venue to the press prompting Nic to make a quick change shortly before he tied the knot. “I didn’t want Lucy’s day to be ruined. So we chose another church and invited OK” he explained. “We knew they would manage the security, and the world and his wife would not be there taking photos.”

1. Nic loves to fly. He started pilot lessons at the age of 17 and eventually became fully qualified. “The lessons cost £17.50 an hour. That was an astral amount of money back then,” he said. “Until the birth of my son, I did consider my pilot’s licence my finest achievement.”